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Potential League-Hoppers, AL-to-NL Edition

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A couple weeks ago, I looked at a few National League players who could be on the move come July and might be worth stashing in AL-only leagues that allow such moves. Reader Robotey wanted to see the flip side of that—American League players who could be traded to the NL—so I thought I’d oblige that request today.

Kurt Suzuki | Oakland A’s | C
With the promotion of top catching prospect Derek Norris this weekend, it could be the beginning of the end for Suzuki’s tenure in Oakland. Suzuki is still under contract through 2013 with a club option for 2014, but if Norris plays well over the next couple weeks while splitting time behind the plate, he could force the issue. And if the A’s can shed some salary while adding a good piece or two for the future, you can bet they’ll jump on it. While there’s never a guarantee that these kinds of players will be traded across leagues, this is more of a concern with Suzuki than with other players as the Rays are in desperate need of a catcher and are apparently hot on Suzuki. That’s not to say Tampa is his only potential destination, but they may be the most likely.

Denard Span | Minnesota Twins | OF
Trade rumors involving Denard Span have been swirling for over a year now, and they’re revving back up again as the 2012 trade deadline approaches. Span still has two years left on his deal, so the Twins aren’t necessarily in any rush to deal him, but with the team looking to acquire young pitching, he could be one of their better trade chips. The Marlins—an NL team!—are already being rumored as interested. With Emilio Bonifacio out for a while, the team would like to acquire a speedy center fielder to replace him. The Nationals were interested in Span at last year’s deadline and are still reportedly interested given their outfield situation. With Jayson Werth on the DL, Bryce Harper has been manning center field, but the team would prefer to have him in a corner, and a Steve Lombardozzi/Tyler Moore/Xavier Nady platoon in left field is far from ideal for a first-place team.

If the Twins remain in the basement of the AL Central (and let’s be honest, they will) players like Justin Morneau and Josh Willingham could also become available.

Jeff Francoeur | Kansas City Royals | OF
Yes, it’s possible Dayton Moore may be the only GM in baseball who actually wants Jeff Francoeur for the final three-quarters of his two-year, $13.5 million deal, but it’s possible the team kicks in some money and deals Frenchy this summer. The team’s top prospect Wil Myers is tearing up the minors and seems in line for a promotion, but a spot would need to open up in order for that to happen. Trading Francoeur makes the most sense to open up such a spot if Moore can live with a Frenchy-less team and find a suitor.

B.J. Upton | Tampa Bay Rays | OF
Upton is in the last year of his deal and is constantly involved in trade rumors, but unless the Rays fall out of the playoff hunt, it seems pretty likely they’ll hold onto him.

Suzuki might interest the Nats and the Brewers in addition to the Jays. The Nats and A's have made a Win trade for both lately.

If Moore has to eat half or even a quarter of Frenchy's $13.5MM salary to trade him in order to get Myers up it might be the straw that broke the camel's back in KC. Thats why KC Brass keeps stalling and propagating by "preaching the process" ...I cannot see another current GM that might be insane or on crack to trade anything for a RH platoon outfielder with poor pitch recognition that happens to be making $7MM per.

Rays is correct - I tell the kids over and over not to eat at the computer.

And yes - Broxton was signed by KC for 1 reason - to inflate his value and deal him. He has a 1 year deal and is pitching for a contract.

Oakland would also love to flip Fuentes, Balfour and Coco for something. They would have like to flip Bartolo had he not pulled his sheath of lard.

Willingham could bring a starry prospect to the Twins - would be ironic if he ends up back in Miami or Washington. He has proven the last couple of years he can hit for power anywhere (Oakland and Minneapolis)

I could see the Rangers trying to deal David Murphy for a bullpen piece.

The Giants could use Cody Ross as could the Marlins. Cody Ross and Lavarnway to the Fish for Anibel Sanchez?